Current Status (19/9/2011)
KiwiSAT. All systems have been developed to fight status.
Outstanding:
Final integration - All hardware is complete and KiwiSAT is operational. Final integration to launch ready awaits completion of command and control testing.
Launch negotiation - now underway.
Flight Software - Operating and control systems are being written with the initial base system under test in the fully integrated satellite housed in the AMSAT-ZL/Massey Albany Clean Room.
Regulatory requirements - Registration is under action.
The Structure.
From the bottom of KiwiSAT and working up.
Tray No 1.
Transmitter Tray
The Transmitter tray is completed to Flight Ready status. Now integrated into final assembly. System meets all expectations.
Tray No 2.
Central Power Control
The BCR (Battery Control Regulator) is completed and integrated into final assembly system. Currently active in controlling power from Solar cell simulators to the fully integrated KiwiSAT unit.
Tray No 3.
System Battery
The battery tray. While this tray is completed and ready for flight. A spare set of batteries are being used during the bench testing in the Clean Room at Albany.
Tray No 4.
IHU
The IHU and RAM disk
The IHU (or In House Unit) is the essential central satellite system control computer.
This unit is completed and integrated into the final assembly unit now under software development.
Tray No 5 -The receivers.
Receiver Tray
This completed tray holds the a 70 cm linear transponder receiver and two 70cm FM receivers, one for the FM transponder, the other a telemetry receiver for control and command.
This completed system is integrated into the final assembly unit and running "on-air" using antenna external to the Albany AMSAT-ZL/Massey University Clean Room.
The Attic.
Science Attic
Completed and integrated into the final assembly unit.
Software.
Software development is well advanced and is the current focus for the KiwiSAT Team.
Launch
Our launch support strategy is unchanged and it requires us to be able to demonstrate "KiwiSAT" as fully and completely as is possible.
Looming Up
Completed Flight Loom
Wiring of the frame, part of the final integration, is now comlete with tidy-up work left before being marked off as "flight ready." The assembly is close to becoming the fully integrated KiwiSAT.
Ground Testing
Ground Test Antenna
KiwiSAT in its final form is in the AMSAT-ZL clean room at Massey University, linked to the outside world via a small antenna farm to enable testing and programming to continue remotely.
Auckland is reasonably hilly and with the team spread over a wide area good antenna are required to guarantee communications.
